Posted by
Defend America on Sunday, March 14, 2010 11:36:59 AM
Robert Gibbs and the Sestak Stonewall
By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
03/13/10 6:38 AM EST
At
Friday's White House briefing, press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked,
for the fifth time in less than three weeks, about Democratic Rep. Joe
Sestak's charge that the White House offered Sestak a high-ranking job
if Sestak would drop his challenge to Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter in
Pennsylvania. And for the fifth time, Gibbs refused to answer the
question of whether the White House offered a bribe to protect the
fortunes of a key political ally.
The story started on February 18, when Sestak told a talk radio host
that the offer had come last summer, when Sestak was considering a run
against Specter. Sestak, a retired Navy admiral, was asked whether he
was offered the position of Secretary of the Navy. "No comment," Sestak
said. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the White House "strongly denied" Sestak's allegation.
On February 23, Gibbs was asked whether he had "any comment" on
Sestak's charge. "I was traveling for a couple of days, as you know,"
Gibbs answered. "I have seen some stuff that he said, but I have not
looked into this."
Later in the briefing, a reporter pointed out that the White House
had "vociferously" denied the story. "When you said, 'I haven't looked
into this,'" the reporter asked Gibbs, "I want to make sure you're not
contradicting that denial."
"I just -- because I was on the road and dealing with different
things on the road," Gibbs responded, "I've not had a chance to delve
into this….Like I said, I was on the road and I don't really have a
whole lot of knowledge on this."
On March 1, the subject came up again. "Last Monday, you were asked
twice about the claims of Congressman Sestak, that he had been offered
a high-ranking administration position -- " a reporter began.
"I have not made any progress on that," Gibbs said.
The reporter pointed out that the Pentagon had said there was no
discussion of any job, but that Sestak stood behind his charge. "Can
you check if the White House made any offer?" the reporter asked.
"Yes, I was remiss on this and I apologize," Gibbs said.
"Can I follow up on that?" asked the reporter.
"There's not much to follow up on," Gibbs said. "Let me check into that."
On March 9, the issue came up again. "You told us a couple of times
you’d check back on this," a reporter asked. "Can you give us an
update?"
"I don’t have the update with me, but let me check and see if I do have anything -- " Gibbs said.
On March 11, Gibbs was asked, "Last Tuesday you told us, 'I don't
have the update with me on Sestak.' Two things have happened since then
-- "
"I don't have any -- " Gibbs said.
"[Rep.] Darrell Issa sent a letter to the White House counsel -- "
"I don't have anything additional on that," Gibbs said.
And finally, on March 12, Gibbs was asked, "Do you have an answer yet on Mr. Sestak's charge?"
"I don't have any more information on that," Gibbs said.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Robert-Gibbs-and-the-Sestak-Stonewall-87567892.html